Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 10, 2006 | CO | Amendment L.004 | Balanced Teaching Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 20) |
| March 10, 2006 | CO | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| March 9, 2006 | NH | HB 1492 | Emergency Contraceptives and Pharmacists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (215 - 106) |
| March 9, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Policy; Forgery; Employment; Licensing | Bill Passed - House (35 - 20) |
| March 9, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (32 - 25) |
| March 8, 2006 | MS | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| March 8, 2006 | MS | HB 1089 | Wildlife Feeding Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |
| March 8, 2006 | MS | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| March 8, 2006 | WY | SF 36 | Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (30 - 29) |
| March 7, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2138 | Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| March 7, 2006 | National | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
| March 7, 2006 | National | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
| March 7, 2006 | IA | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| March 7, 2006 | WI | SJR 5 | Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| March 6, 2006 | AZ | SB 1425 | Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency. | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3) |
| March 6, 2006 | ID | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| March 6, 2006 | ID | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| March 6, 2006 | AZ | SB 1425 | Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency. | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3) |
| March 6, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 6, 2006 | AZ | SB 1273 | Border Radar Lease Appropriation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
| March 2, 2006 | National | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
| March 2, 2006 | National | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
| March 2, 2006 | IN | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| March 2, 2006 | GA | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13) |
| March 2, 2006 | GA | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13) |
| March 2, 2006 | GA | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13) |
| March 2, 2006 | IN | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| March 2, 2006 | NJ | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| March 1, 2006 | UT | 2SSB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34) |
| March 1, 2006 | ID | SJR 106 | Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| March 1, 2006 | UT | HB 328 | Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| March 1, 2006 | UT | HB 328 | Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| March 1, 2006 | AZ | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (33 - 22) |
| March 1, 2006 | KY | HB 399 | Wage Discrimination Bill | Bill Passed - House (72 - 22) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | ID | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | WI | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | IN | HB 1028 | Firearms and Self-Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | ID | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | CO | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | UT | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | VT | HA to H 856 | Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 82) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | ID | H 582 | Breathalyzer Refusal Penalty | Bill Passed - House (47 - 19) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | WY | SF 36 | Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| Feb. 21, 2006 | MO | SCS SB 578 | Funeral Protests Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (139 - 17) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | UT | HB 329 | Big Game Hunting Age | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | VA | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| Feb. 16, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| Feb. 16, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | NH | HB 1422 | Motion on Death Penalty Repeal | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (200 - 137) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | CO | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | NH | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | ID | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | VA | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | ID | S 1327 | Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | NM | HB 211 | Pseudoephedrine as a Controlled Substance | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | UT | 1SHB 10 | Dating Violence Protective Orders Bill | Bill Failed - House (36 - 39) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | VA | HB 782 | Second-Degree Murder Charges | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | CO | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
| Feb. 11, 2006 | NM | SB 216 | Criminal DNA Collection | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | SD | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 1090 | Juvenile Sentencing | Bill Passed - House (74 - 48) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/10 | Amendment L.004 | Balanced Teaching Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 20) |
| 3/10 | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 3/09 | HB 1492 | Emergency Contraceptives and Pharmacists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (215 - 106) |
| 3/09 | HB 2577 | Immigration Policy; Forgery; Employment; Licensing | Bill Passed - House (35 - 20) |
| 3/09 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (32 - 25) |
| 3/08 | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| 3/08 | HB 1089 | Wildlife Feeding Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |
| 3/08 | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| 3/08 | SF 36 | Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (30 - 29) |
| 3/07 | HCS HB 2138 | Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| 3/07 | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
| 3/07 | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
| 3/07 | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 3/07 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| 3/07 | SJR 5 | Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 3/06 | SB 1425 | Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency. | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3) |
| 3/06 | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| 3/06 | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| 3/06 | SB 1425 | Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency. | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3) |
| 3/06 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 3/06 | SB 1273 | Border Radar Lease Appropriation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
| 3/02 | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
| 3/02 | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
| 3/02 | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| 3/02 | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13) |
| 3/02 | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13) |
| 3/02 | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13) |
| 3/02 | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| 3/02 | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| 3/01 | 2SSB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34) |
| 3/01 | SJR 106 | Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 3/01 | HB 328 | Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| 3/01 | HB 328 | Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| 3/01 | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (33 - 22) |
| 3/01 | HB 399 | Wage Discrimination Bill | Bill Passed - House (72 - 22) |
| 2/28 | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 2/28 | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| 2/28 | HB 1028 | Firearms and Self-Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| 2/28 | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 2/28 | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 2/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| 2/23 | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 2/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
| 2/22 | HA to H 856 | Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 82) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| 2/22 | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 2/22 | H 582 | Breathalyzer Refusal Penalty | Bill Passed - House (47 - 19) |
| 2/22 | SF 36 | Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| 2/22 | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| 2/21 | SCS SB 578 | Funeral Protests Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (139 - 17) |
| 2/20 | HB 329 | Big Game Hunting Age | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| 2/20 | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 2/16 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 2/16 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 2/15 | HB 1422 | Motion on Death Penalty Repeal | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (200 - 137) |
| 2/15 | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| 2/15 | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| 2/15 | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| 2/15 | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
| 2/15 | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 2/14 | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| 2/14 | S 1327 | Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 2/14 | HB 211 | Pseudoephedrine as a Controlled Substance | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 2/13 | 1SHB 10 | Dating Violence Protective Orders Bill | Bill Failed - House (36 - 39) |
| 2/13 | HB 782 | Second-Degree Murder Charges | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 2/13 | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
| 2/11 | SB 216 | Criminal DNA Collection | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
| 2/09 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 2/09 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 2/09 | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| 2/09 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 2/07 | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
| 2/07 | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| 2/07 | HB 1090 | Juvenile Sentencing | Bill Passed - House (74 - 48) |